Telemotor system



Patented June 21, 1927.`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER A. SPERRY, JR., OF BROOKLYN, NEW-YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPERRY GYRO- SCOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

'rELEMo'roR SYSTEM.

Application led Hay 16,

` errors dueto `leakage of air therein andto leakage of fluid out of the vclosed system. The efficiency of the telemotor system depends, of course, upon maintaining the systcm completely filled with an incompressible fluid, and in maintaining synchronism between the rudder and pilot wheel.

My invention has for one of its objects, the

provision of meansfor segregating any air or other gaseous products which may enter I the telemotor system, and the provision of means for getting rid of the air hand or automatically.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for insuring that the entire telemotor system will always be maintained completely filled with incompressible fluid. This means may include the provision of a supply of said fluid, and means for coneither by nectingthe system with said supply every y time the steering wheel or the rudder passes through a predetermined position.

I prefer to accomplish the object set forth in the preceding paragraph preferably by a suitable valve or valves operated by a lever, which in turn is actuated from an operating member, such as the steering wheel. It is another object of my invention to provide means for positively actuating said lever to its effective and ineffective positions to insure positive actuation of the fluid supply controlling valves to open and closed positions.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will-.become apparent as the dea scription of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings The figure is anassembly view, somewhat diagrammatic, and partly sectioned, of a telemotor system embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a steering Wheel 10, adapted to actuate a telemotor system which controls the steering engine 11 for operating'the rudder in one 1924. serial' No. 113,712.

direction-k or the other. The steering engine may' be of the steam or other fluid-pressure controlled type, the pressure being regulated or controlled by a valve 13 adapted to be operated in one direction or the other by an operating member here shown in the form of completely filled with substantially incompressible fluid. In each of said second set of cylinders operates a piston 22-23, the upper ends .of which are connected to racks 2li-25 geared to opposite sides of a pinion 26, lfixed upon the shaft of the steering wheel, so that when said steering wheel is rotated in one direction ,or the other, the pistons 22-23 in said second set of cylinders are moved in opposite directions, one to compress the fluid therein and cause the operating piston 15 to be moved in a given direction while the other moves outwardly to permit accommodation of the fluid forced out of the other of said first cylinders.

The'cylinders 20-21`may be connected to each other by a connection 30, and to a source of fluid supply, such as tank 31, by a connection 32 which may engage connection 30. The supply ofl fluid to said cylinders bv way of' connection .30 may be controlled by a needle-valve 33, which not only controls the flow ofthe fluid from tank 31 to the cylinders, but the flow between the cylinders. In starting, valve 33 is opened to allow both sides of the' pressure 'system to fill with fluid. The interconnection of 'the two sides of the pressure s stem through connection 30 insures equa ization of volume of fluid in the two sides, since springs 18 maintain pist-on 15 in centralized position. The valve 33 is then closed t0 out off the fliud supply and to separate. the two sides of the pressure sys-` 1 tem. A Itwill thus be seen that when the steering wheel is in its zero position, that is, the position corresponding to the neutral positio'n of the rudder, the operating piston 15 will extend to the same degree 1nto said cylinders 16-17 and the pistons 22-23 in the second set of said cylinderswill extend To relieve any air which has thus leaked l into the system and to synchronize the rudder with the steering wheel, I provide the following mechanism:

Both sides of the pressure system are connected by suitable means, such as 'pipes --36 with two valve chambers 37-38 in a casing 40, said valve chambers comprising' a set of ports 41-42 with which cooperate valves 43-'-44, said valves being normally pressed' against the valve seats by springs 45 to close said ports. Said ports open into a common fluid chamber/15' lconnected by piping-.46 to the source of fluid supply 31,

. so that whensaid valves 43-44 are in open v position, both sides of the pressure s stem are placed in communication with sai supply chamber to replenish the supply of fluid therein, while any air in said system passes through` the supply chamber into an air dome 47 above said chamber for segregatingany ai'r which may have leaked into the system. n

Preferably I' provide that the valves are opened simultaneously, and preferably each' time the steering wheel asses through zero position, thatis, the posltion corresponding to neutral position of the rudder. As the rudder is constantly being swung fromhone side to the other of its neutral position, the

.Y synchronization of the rudder with the steering-wheel', the equalization and replenishment of' incompressible fluid in the two sides of the pressure system, as well as the segregation of any' air fromv said system, will take place at frequent intervals. For

this purpose the valve stems may be pro-v vided with a common valve extension 50 which may have a block 51 formed on the' u per end in which is mounted a roller 52 a apted to be en aged by a cam 53 fixed on the steering w eel. The cam is so posl- Vtioned with respect to said wheel that it engages the roller 52 to depress the common nesaaes extension 50 and Iopen both valves simultaneously whenever the steering wheel passes through the zero or neutral position. The engagement of the cam with said roller thus places both sides of the pressure system in engagement with said supply chamber so that the same head exists o'n both ends of piston 15, thus enabling the centralizing springs 18 to restore the piston 15 to central position and synchronize the rudder with the steering wheel. The piston 15 having been returned to central position, both sides of said system are completely filled with fluid, thus equalizing the fluid in the two sides, while any air in 'said system may pass out into the air dome.

When, the steering wheel moves to one side or the othei` of its central or neutral position, the cam disengages the roller and the springs 45 return the valves to their closed positions and raise the extension-50 to its upper position. In addition to these springs, I provide positive means for clos! lng the valves just as I have provided positive means (cam 53 and extension 5Q) for opening the valves. Said means may comprise a bell crank pivoted on a bracket 61 which may be attached to, or formed integral with, the casing 40, one arm 62 of said bell crank engaging the block 51 on the upper end of said extension 50, the other arm 63 of said bell crank being provided with a roller 64 adapted to engage one or the other of 4a pair of cams 65, 66. Said cams are so positioned that they will engage the said roller 64 as soon as said first cam 53 disengages the roller 52 on the upper end of said extension, cam 65 engaging said roller 64 when the lsteering Wheel is rotated in oneV direction and the other cam 66 engaging said roller when the steering wheel is rotated in the opposite direction. By this means the bell'crank is operated positively in a clockwise direction to raise the extension and close the valves.

Since the three cams hereinbefore described bear a definite relation to each other and to the steering wheel to which they are attached, they may be formed as one integral member and suitably attached to the steering wheel in proper relation thereto.

'It should be noted that the valves 43-44 are placed above the operating cylinders 2() and 2 1 and that the reservoir containing the air dome 47 is placed above the valves. This arrangement is important if all the air in the system is to be pro erly gotten rid of, as otherwise pockets of alr will form in the system whichwill not be discharged when the valves are open.

In order to separate the segregated air within the air dome from the telemotor system, I may provide a stopcock 70 in the upper end of said dome so that said air may be manually' discharged. In addition thereto,'-or in lieu thereof, -I may provide astand-` said standpipe and discharge through the top thereof.

Vithin the'casing 40 I may provide suitablescreens 72-73 to prevent undue oscillations of the fluid therein and also restricted passages 7 4 to cause a relatively slow and steady equalization movement between the two sides of the pressure system.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle and operation of myl invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of` these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general -results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having herein described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a telemotor system, a pilot Wheel, an operating member, a hydraulic pressure system for operating said member from the pilot Wheel, and means operableV when said pilot wheel yis in a predetermined position for equalizing the liquid throughout the system and for separating out air.

2. In a telemotor system, an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a substantially incompressible fluid operated by said member, a chamber containing a supply of saidfluid and having an air dome, and means operable by movement of said member whereby said pressure vsystem is connected' to said chamber for replenishing the supply of fiuid in said pressure system and permitting discharge of any air within said pressure system into said air dome.

3. In a telemotor system, an operating member, a pressure'system adapted to employ a substantially incompressible fluid for operating said member, including a chamber having an air dome, a valve whereby said vpressure system may be connected to said chamber to permit discharge of any air within said pressure system into said air dome and positive means for opening and .closing said valve.

4. In a telemotor system, an operating member, a pressure system adapted Vto employ a substantially incompressible fluid for operating said member, a chamber having an air dome, means for intermittently connecting said pressure system to said chamber to permit discharge of any air Within said pressure system into said air dome and means forreleasing Fthe air from said air dome. y

5. In a telemotor system, a pressure system adapted to be operated by a substantially incompressible fluid, an air dome, op-

. erating cylinders, means located at a higher point in the system than said cylinders for `discharging any air within said pressure system into said air dome, and means for releasing-the air from said air dome.

6. In a telemotor system, an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a substantially incompressible fluid for operating said member, a chamber containing a supply of said fluid, means whereby said pressure` system may be connected to said chamber for replenishing the supply of fluid in said pressure system and permitting discharge of any air within said pressure system into said chamber, and means for positively actuating said first means to effective and ineffective' positions.

7. In a telemotor system, an Operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a substantially incompressible .fluid for operating said member, a chamber containing a supply of said fluid,means whereby said pressure system may be connected to said chamber for replenishing the supply of fluid in said pressure system and permitting discharge of any air within said pressure system into said chamber, means for positively actuating said first'means to effective position, and means for positively actuating said first means to ineffective po- 9. In combination, a steering wheel, a telemotor system operated thereby, said system including an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a substantially incompressible fluid for operating said member, a chamber containing a supply of said fluid and having an air dome, means whereby said pressure system may be connected to said chamber for replenishing the supply of said fluid in said pressure system and permitting discharge of any air Within said pressure system into sald air dome, and

means whereby said steering wheel operates said first means every time said Wheel passes through a predetermined position.

l0. .ln combination, a steering wheel, a felemotor system operated thereby, said systeni lincluding an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a substan-V tially incompressible fluid for operating said member, means for maintaining' said pres- Lli) vsure system' filled with said fluid and for separating out any air from said pressure system, including a valve located above said operating member and an air dome above said valve and a cam carried by said steering wheel whereby said first means is operated to effective position every time said wheel passes through a predetermined position.

12.` In combination` a steering wheel, a telemotor system operated thereby, said system including an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a substantially incompressible fluid for operating said member, means for maintaining said pressure system filled with said fluid and for separatii'igvout any air from said pressure system, a cam carried by said steering wheel whereby said first means is operated to effective position very time said Wheel passes through a predetermined position, and a second cam carried by said steering wheel for operating said first means to ineffective position when said wheel movesbeyond said predetermined position.

I 13. In combination, a steering wheel, a telemotor system operated thereby, said system including an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a siibstantially incompressible fiuid for operating said member, means for maintaining said pressure system filled with said fluid and for separating .out any air from saidpressure system, a cam carried-by said steering wheel whereby said first means :is operated to effective position every time said wheel passes through a predetermined position, and a set of cams carried by said steering wheel for operating said first means to ineffective position when said wheel moves beyond said predetermined position in either direction.

14. In combination, a steering Wheel, a telemotor system operated thereby, said system including an operating member, a pressure system adapted to employ a, substantially incompressible fluid for operating said member, means for maintaining said pressure system filled with said fiuid and for separating out any air from said pressure system, Ositively-acting means whereby, said steering wheel operates said first means to effective position every time said wheel passes through a predetermined position, and positively-acting means whereby said steerin wheel operates said first means to ineffective osition when said wheel moves beyond sai predetermined position.

15. In combination, a steering wheel, a rudder, a telemotor system operated by said wheel for controlling said rudder, means permitting synchronization of said rudder and said wheel, said means including a valve, and means for positively actuating said valve to open and closed positions.

16. In combination, a steering wheel, a rudder, a telemotor system operated by said wheel for controlling said rudder, means permitting synchronization of said rudder and said Wheel, said means including a valvc, and cam means for positively actuating said valve to open and closed positions.

17. In combination, a steering wheel, a

rudder, a telemotor system operated by said e wheel for controlling said rudder, said system including an operating member, and means for applying a separate Huid-pressure system to each end of said member, means permitting synchronization of said rudder and said wheel, said means including a valve interconnecting said pressure systems, and means for positively actuating said valve to open and closed positions.

18. In combination, a steeringkwheel, a rudder, a telemotor system operated by said wheel for'controlling said rudder, said system including an operating member, and means for applying a separa-te fluid-pressure system to each end of said member, means permitting synchronization of said rudder and said wheel, said means including a valve interconnecting said pressure systems, and cam means for positively actuating said valve to open and closed positions.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ELMER A. SPERRY, JR. 

